n  "Look and learn all citizens of Thebes. This is Oedipus.
He, who read the famous riddle, and we hailed chief of men,
All envied his power, glory, and good fortune.
Now upon his head the sea of disaster crashes down.
Mortality is man’s burden. Keep your eyes fixed on your last day.
Call no man happy until he reaches it, and finds rest from suffering."n

I believe that in one way or another, everyone - at least to some extent - has heard of the story of Oedipus and Jocasta. It's one of those tales that's been on our collective consciousness forever even though we may not even be able to assertively answer about its origins. The same might be said, for example, of Odysseus and Don Quixote: they've been so used and re-used, adapted and re-adapted throughout so many generations and in so many different formats that one might as well state they were simply born within us, for they're public and common knowledge. I, for one, believed Oedipus and Jocasta's tale came from the Bible! As I was never a religious person and therefore never payed much attention to it - and unfortunately never decently studied Greek mythology -, I used to unconsciously attribute to the Bible the origins of all stories which seemed to me as too ancient to properly date. I'm terribly sorry and embarrassed about that, Sophocles. I stand corrected now.

Every time I read an ancient text I recurrently find myself to blame because of the same mistake: being surprised by its quality despite being written so long ago. It turns out more and more I agree with an analysis I've read somewhere that states that, unlike science, there is no progress, no discovery in art. An artist, while he creates, is not helped by the efforts of all the others - like scientists are - and depends upon his own individual truths. The ancient art is in no way a primitive version of the art created by our contemporaries. So it should not be astonishing to me that a text written thousands of years ago possesses the same qualities or refinement of awarded pieces that only now cracked their fifty years of age mark.

Putting the story itself a little aside, it's precisely this refinement, this brilliance in the construction of the narrative that impressed me so much. The pace, the development of the action and disentanglement of this intricate plot was written so masterfully that it requires little investigation in discovering the reasons why it became so influential to the subsequent generations. Now, I'm not knowledgeable enough to affirm that Sophocles himself wasn't influenced by other works that preceded him, so I'm not claiming unprecedented originality to his name here, but merely(!) talent in using the most appropriate techniques to write so many wondrous predicates into this marvelous play. The ability with which he created, sustained and solved the various mysteries that surround this classical tragedy is very remarkable, as well as a striking mixture of pity and horror that the themes developed here successfully imposes on the reader.

Themes such as fate, free will, interference in human life by the Gods (for some that hasn't changed much, has it?) and its inflexible exploration of human nature and suffering are skillfully written in the form of intense dialogues and shocking revelations that could even prove too disturbing had not been Sophocles accurate treatment, much like the reader likely pities Phedre's actions instead of automatically blaming her for her fate. The ever so mesmerizing battle between destiny and logical consequences also plays a big role here: does fate completely control Oedipus's actions - is it all predetermined? -, or is he simply a victim of his own doings, even if unknowingly?

Oedipus Rex (also known as Oedipus the King and Oedipus Tyrannus) tells the story of Oedipus, a man that's respected and loved in Thebas, where he is King after solving the riddle of the Sphinx and marrying Jocasta, the widow of the previous king. After a plague threatens his kingdom, he is begged by a chorus of Thebans for help and Oedipus sends for an oracle in order to find some guidance. As it turns out, Tiresias, the blind prophet, believes the King is the only one to blame for his malady. At first outraged and, because of it, incensed into proving his innocence, he starts connecting the clues that he receives from various bits of information gathered by different sources. As it turns out, Oedipus, after leaving his home in Corinth due to a prophecy which stated he would murder his father and sleep with his mother, entered a fight with some men at a crossroads and ended up killing them, before arriving in Thebes. One of these men was Laius, Jocasta’s husband and previous King. In order to escape the prophecy, Oedipus fell into it, as he was Laius’s son who was sent away to be killed many years ago exactly because he received an oracle that he would be murdered by his own son. Oedipus’s life ended up being spared and, unknown to him, he was adopted by the King of Corinth. Now it was clear to him that, besides murdering his father, he has slept with his own mother and fathered children that were also his brothers and sisters. Jocasta, upon finding out this complex imbroglio, can't deal with the unimaginable situation and kills herself. Completely horrified and ruined by everything he found out, Oedipus blinds himself (ironically at the precise moment when he sees the whole truth) so he wouldn't ever again need to see his own feelings of shame and humiliation mirrored in the faces of the others.

I've read some criticism stating that some of the drama in the play is a bit over the top, and while I wouldn't agree and, more importantly, couldn't possibly begin to imagine myself in the same situation, I guess it was in vogue at the time that the heroes would suffer so much when they'd find their worlds turned upside down that they would impose on themselves severe sentences such as mutilations or death. Part of their heroism is exactly accepting to endure serious consequences, not once pleading blamelessness. Even later, in Shakespeare, we were still to find six or seven characters dying just like that, entire families decimated because of the belief that there could be no way out once the universe had programmed their fates.

Film adaptation: as influential as this story was everywhere, of course it wouldn’t lack adaptations in film. When I found out there was one Edipo Re (1967), directed by Pasolini, I instantly picked it to watch as I imagined that controversial material filmed by controversial director could only result in very interesting movie - to say the least! Much to my surprise, the ick factor was greatly downplayed and this time the Italian director focused more on the emotional aspects of his narrative than on the sexual ones. His rendition was very faithful to the story, although the linear narrative lacked the sophistication employed by Sophocles that chose to slowly reveal details of the plot by making use of different characters referring to past events. The power of the prophecy and the influence in human lives by the Gods were also not as active as in the original story. The intro Pasolini used though was very interesting: it begins in modern days where a father is very jealous of his son's connection with his mother and decides to get rid of him, as if he was anticipating an Oedipus complex situation; after that, time goes back to the ancient days.

Rating: I can't wait to read more from Sophocles and if my anticipation for the remaining plays in this trilogy (Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone) means anything, is that it's a great testament of Oedipus Rex's qualities and how highly I enjoyed this short but intense reading experience: 5 stars.

Beware: spoilers

I, too, would gouge out my eyes and flee my hometown if I found out I married my long-lost relative.

The Moirai (or Fates as they're more commonly known) played a cruel joke on Oedipus.

My childhood nemesis got married to her second cousin, but that's not as bad as what Oedipus did.

I have a soft spot for Oedipus because he is the father/brother of Antigone, my favorite heroine. Yes, he is her father AND brother.

People who know nothing about Oedipus:

n  n

Oedipus finds out his wife is also his mother, his children are also his siblings, his brother-in-law is also his uncle and the man he killed on the road was his father.

Is it wrong to laugh at this?

The fact he killed his father over road rage is the most Greek mythology thing I've ever read. Oedipus narrowly avoids being hit by his biological father's chariot at an intersection. The only logical solution is to kill Laius and his entourage. Common sense has no place in Greek mythology.

Why does everyone refer to this as a tragedy when it's obviously a dark comedy?

This reminds me of the Foo Fighters music video 'Walk,' where Dave Grohl experiences an existential crisis while stuck in traffic.

Let's rewind to the beginning.

There once was a king named Laius who ruled over Thebes. Laius had a beautiful wife named Jocasta and all the wealth and power he could desire. If this was a Disney movie, Laius and Jocasta would have a happily-ever-after ending. Unfortunately for Laius, he was a supporting character in someone else's (Greek) tragedy.

After receiving an oracle from Delphi, he was warned that if he had a child, the child would kill him and marry his wife. Can you tell where this is going? Laius got drunk one evening and forgot he wasn't supposed to have sex. We've all been there.

The oracle: don't have sex
Laius and Jocasta: what if we have sex, and if we conceive a child, we'll hire a shepherd to leave it on a mountain to die?

I find it amusing that the solution to all problems is abandoning a child on a mountain. It is reminiscent of what Priam and Hecuba did to Paris.

n  n

Several months later, baby Oedipus is born. Fearing the prophecy, Jocasta gives her child to a shepherd to be exposed on the mountainside. The shepherd takes pity on the child and gives him to another shepherd, who gives the child to the childless king and queen of Corinth.


Oedipus is raised by his adoptive parents in Corinth. He is happy until he consults the Delphi oracle, who predicts that he will kill his father and sleep with his mother. (In the days before Google, people relied on the oracle for information). Oedipus felt afraid and decided to nope out of Corinth to protect his 'parents.'

Long story short, Oedipus and his biological father meet on a random road, get into an argument, and Oedipus kills him. Road rage - claiming victims since the Heroic Age. Fate brings Oedipus to Thebes, where he becomes king and marries his mother, Jocasta, fulfilling the prophecy.

They have four children - Eteocles, Polynices, Ismene, and my beloved Antigone. Eteocles and Polynices are power-hungry idiots, Ismene is useless, and Antigone is a certified badass. That's all I have to say about that.

Throughout the book, Oedipus denies the truth and seeks reassurance that he didn't kill his father or marry his mother. Denial, thy name is Oedipus. Eventually, he accepts that he F up big time.

n  n

I shouldn't find a book that deals with attempted filicide, parricide, and incest funny, but I do.

Upon discovering the truth, Oedipus becomes furious and demands his sword to kill Jocasta. I can't help but imagine the poor servants who had to witness this unholy family drama unfold.

Luckily for him, she unalived herself. Oedipus is overcome by sadness. I'm not sure why. Just a moment ago, he was about to attack her with his sword. Anyway, he finds Jocasta dead and gouges out his eyes with the pins from her dress. Can this guy be any more dramatic?

Oedipus, saying goodbye to his daughters/half-sisters, Antigone and Ismene: Our family is messed up, and for that, I apologize. I can't be your dad anymore. I've asked your uncle Creon to take care of you. Farewell.

Me, having read Antigone:

n  n

After discovering the truth about his past, Oedipus decides to leave Thebes and go into self-imposed exile.


Upon reading it for the second time, do you know what I realized? If ancient Greece had traffic regulations, none of this would have occurred. Oedipus would not have killed his father and banged his mother if there were traffic lights and pedestrian crossings on the road. The absence of modern technology has led to all this drama.

I'm paying off my MBA so I can only take a couple writing classes; the rest I need to learn with low cost. I looked up standard college literature to help with this goal. I found this website listing standard reading: http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/e.... I plan to read the bold-faced books next year.

You can get many free books on Gutenburg Pro, an app I downloaded for iOS.

I didn't think I would like this because incest disgusts me, although I do live in Kentucky, famed for the blue mountain people. I see what Aristotle referred to as Revelation (which I call, 'Luke, I am your Father' moments) and Reversals, known now as plot twists. This had both. An excellent piece.

You can read it in a couple hours, well worth your time. I highly recommend this. If you've developed a vivid imagination from reading, you may feel you watch this from a professional performing arts center with full music and choir and professional dramatic acting, and a weeping audience.